Now (and Then) Appearing
Early 2018: I'm happy to say I am music directing LION KING, JR for an after-school program at Kennedy Middle School in Redwood City. We have a great artistic team - Stacey Ardelean directing and Mandy Bell choreographing - and a bunch of great, engaged kids to work with.
November 2013: Long time since I have updated this section - a sign of a busy life! This fall is full of music, including Mendelssohn's ELIJAH with Masterworks Chorale. I am in several small ensembles featured on this concert on November 9-10. I also got to do the soprano solo in Beethoven's CHORAL FANTASY (again with Masterworks as guests of Peninsula Symphony).
May 2013: Just joined the staff of Peninsula Girls Chorus in Burlingame, CA as Chorus Manager. We serve 200+ girls age 6-18 in five leveled choirs, and are heading into our 20th Anniversary Season in 2013-14. UPDATE: The PGC Board redefined this position in June 2016, at which point I left the organization. At the same time I had the opportunity to work with San Carlos Children's Theatre for the first time, as vocal director for a 1-week theatre camp.
March 2009: I have joined Goat Hall Productions (an eclectic opera company in the East Bay) for performances of Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO in San Francisco on March 6 and 8, 2009. Performances are in Italian with supertitles and piano accompaniment by the fantastic Robert Ashens. I play Marcellina, the stylish battleaxe who wants to force Figaro to marry her. The singers in this group are wonderful talents and great to work with, so I hope some of you will come on by! Go to www.goathall.org for tickets to the San Francisco performances.
Fall 2008:
I've added teaching K-5 music classes in a private school to my expanding musical pursuits. Our holiday concert was well received - you haven't really lived until you've heard Kindergarteners lustily singing Handel's MESSIAH (a children's version). Joyful Voice Studio is also well-booked with singers age 12 through 60-something. Recent student performances included Ashley Chiu as Hope in ANYTHING GOES, and Marachel Leib as Mabel in PIRATES OF PENZANCE JR.
I enjoyed playing Nimue in a 5-week run of CAMELOT presented by Pacifica Spindrift Players - I had my very own very cool lighting effect for the 60 seconds or so that I was onstage. Rounding out the year was a Holiday Concert in Campbell with the STOCTET, and pre-show appearances at Ballet San Jose's NUTCRACKER.
Spring 2008:
After a busy fall season with the holiday program, Brio Vocal Ensemble is now booking a 40-minute program, "Swingtime con Brio" - a collection of songs about love from the folk, popular & jazz traditions. What fun - you get to listen (one audience even included some folks who got up and danced) - and I get to sing AND direct! Call or email me for more information: (650) 278-2707 or r53hansen@sbcglobal.net.
************
A glutton for great music? I've recently joined ANOTHER choral group, a 22-voice show choir based in Campbell, CA called the STOCtet (Studio Theatre of Campbell) under the direction of Kevin Cormier. We have performances slated for June 14 and 15, 2008, with a program of all Americana including that warhorse, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" arranged by Wilhousky. Bring your flag and join us!
*********
Another Butterfly!
I'm finally singing with Mission City Opera (after 2 operas as chorus master AND supertitle operator)in the chorus of their MADAMA BUTTERFLY, playing Feb. 15-17 and Feb 22-24, 2008 at Mission City Performing Arts Center, 3250 Monroe, Santa Clara 95051 (Corner Calabazas Blvd.)
**********
March 15-16, 2008 - Masterworks Chorale presents an all-Shakespeare program featuring soloists Wendy Hillhouse and Brian Thorsett, dancers and actors, and of course the Chorale singing Vaughn-Williams' "Serenade to Music" and some yummy settings by Matthew Harris. Visit www.masterworks.org or call (650) 574-6313 for tickets!May
2007:
What better way to return to musical theatre than to be in a superb production of Meridith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN - a show I grew up listening to and finally have become a River City-zian! We got a rave review from the San Mateo Times:
Hillbarn's Lively 'Music Man' Looks and Sounds Great
By Keith Kreitman, Contributor
05/08/2007
Hillbarn Theatre proved me wrong again. I was unable to see how it could possibly mount a production as expansive as "The Music Man" in its limited space, but the company was able to bring new life to this 50-year-old theatrical masterpiece.
The production boasts impressive movable sets by Lee Basham, choreography by Joe Duffy and Beth Ann Wells, costumes by Deniz Twelves, an uninhibited, fun-loving adult cast and a bunch of super-talented, super-enthusiastic kids, all staged with great elan by co-directors Toni Tomei and Greg Sudmeier, who also serves as musical director.
It made me feel as if I were viewing "The Music Man" for the first time, with new eyes and new appreciation.
(Sorry I had to cut it short to make space for other notices...RH)
I wish I had enough space to give credit to all of the heartwarming talents in this show. I must mention Trevor Meacham, who moved up to a full role in this production as Tommy Djilas, the town juvenile delinquent, who has eyes for the mayor's daughter, Zaneeta, played by Amanda Andrews*. As a singing and dancing actor, Trevor is proving he's got the right stuff.
*************
*Amanda is a Joyful Voice Studio singer - in 2006 she played Winnifred in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, while another JVS student, Carolyn Worthge, played the evil queen!
**************
November 2013: Long time since I have updated this section - a sign of a busy life! This fall is full of music, including Mendelssohn's ELIJAH with Masterworks Chorale. I am in several small ensembles featured on this concert on November 9-10. I also got to do the soprano solo in Beethoven's CHORAL FANTASY (again with Masterworks as guests of Peninsula Symphony).
May 2013: Just joined the staff of Peninsula Girls Chorus in Burlingame, CA as Chorus Manager. We serve 200+ girls age 6-18 in five leveled choirs, and are heading into our 20th Anniversary Season in 2013-14. UPDATE: The PGC Board redefined this position in June 2016, at which point I left the organization. At the same time I had the opportunity to work with San Carlos Children's Theatre for the first time, as vocal director for a 1-week theatre camp.
March 2009: I have joined Goat Hall Productions (an eclectic opera company in the East Bay) for performances of Mozart's MARRIAGE OF FIGARO in San Francisco on March 6 and 8, 2009. Performances are in Italian with supertitles and piano accompaniment by the fantastic Robert Ashens. I play Marcellina, the stylish battleaxe who wants to force Figaro to marry her. The singers in this group are wonderful talents and great to work with, so I hope some of you will come on by! Go to www.goathall.org for tickets to the San Francisco performances.
Fall 2008:
I've added teaching K-5 music classes in a private school to my expanding musical pursuits. Our holiday concert was well received - you haven't really lived until you've heard Kindergarteners lustily singing Handel's MESSIAH (a children's version). Joyful Voice Studio is also well-booked with singers age 12 through 60-something. Recent student performances included Ashley Chiu as Hope in ANYTHING GOES, and Marachel Leib as Mabel in PIRATES OF PENZANCE JR.
I enjoyed playing Nimue in a 5-week run of CAMELOT presented by Pacifica Spindrift Players - I had my very own very cool lighting effect for the 60 seconds or so that I was onstage. Rounding out the year was a Holiday Concert in Campbell with the STOCTET, and pre-show appearances at Ballet San Jose's NUTCRACKER.
Spring 2008:
After a busy fall season with the holiday program, Brio Vocal Ensemble is now booking a 40-minute program, "Swingtime con Brio" - a collection of songs about love from the folk, popular & jazz traditions. What fun - you get to listen (one audience even included some folks who got up and danced) - and I get to sing AND direct! Call or email me for more information: (650) 278-2707 or r53hansen@sbcglobal.net.
************
A glutton for great music? I've recently joined ANOTHER choral group, a 22-voice show choir based in Campbell, CA called the STOCtet (Studio Theatre of Campbell) under the direction of Kevin Cormier. We have performances slated for June 14 and 15, 2008, with a program of all Americana including that warhorse, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" arranged by Wilhousky. Bring your flag and join us!
*********
Another Butterfly!
I'm finally singing with Mission City Opera (after 2 operas as chorus master AND supertitle operator)in the chorus of their MADAMA BUTTERFLY, playing Feb. 15-17 and Feb 22-24, 2008 at Mission City Performing Arts Center, 3250 Monroe, Santa Clara 95051 (Corner Calabazas Blvd.)
**********
March 15-16, 2008 - Masterworks Chorale presents an all-Shakespeare program featuring soloists Wendy Hillhouse and Brian Thorsett, dancers and actors, and of course the Chorale singing Vaughn-Williams' "Serenade to Music" and some yummy settings by Matthew Harris. Visit www.masterworks.org or call (650) 574-6313 for tickets!May
2007:
What better way to return to musical theatre than to be in a superb production of Meridith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN - a show I grew up listening to and finally have become a River City-zian! We got a rave review from the San Mateo Times:
Hillbarn's Lively 'Music Man' Looks and Sounds Great
By Keith Kreitman, Contributor
05/08/2007
Hillbarn Theatre proved me wrong again. I was unable to see how it could possibly mount a production as expansive as "The Music Man" in its limited space, but the company was able to bring new life to this 50-year-old theatrical masterpiece.
The production boasts impressive movable sets by Lee Basham, choreography by Joe Duffy and Beth Ann Wells, costumes by Deniz Twelves, an uninhibited, fun-loving adult cast and a bunch of super-talented, super-enthusiastic kids, all staged with great elan by co-directors Toni Tomei and Greg Sudmeier, who also serves as musical director.
It made me feel as if I were viewing "The Music Man" for the first time, with new eyes and new appreciation.
(Sorry I had to cut it short to make space for other notices...RH)
I wish I had enough space to give credit to all of the heartwarming talents in this show. I must mention Trevor Meacham, who moved up to a full role in this production as Tommy Djilas, the town juvenile delinquent, who has eyes for the mayor's daughter, Zaneeta, played by Amanda Andrews*. As a singing and dancing actor, Trevor is proving he's got the right stuff.
*************
*Amanda is a Joyful Voice Studio singer - in 2006 she played Winnifred in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, while another JVS student, Carolyn Worthge, played the evil queen!
**************